EAST LANSING >> The most exciting part of the college basketball season is here.

March Madness is officially underway, with Michigan State drawing a No. 2 seed in the 68-team field, set for a first-round game against Bryant at 10 p.m. Friday in Cleveland. Now, the quest for a national championship begins. As the Spartans try to find their best basketball in the games that matter most, the tournament adds one more issue to contend with more than any other time this season.

“It’s not injuries; it’s not getting hot, it’s not getting cold, not the officials. Can’t blame it on the media …” Izzo said Sunday. “It’s the distractions. It’s my favorite line, the dirtbags and the distractions. And that’s what these kids have to deal with these last two years that they never had to deal with. That’s what I’m trying to do with my guys, keep everybody focused on the task at hand.”

Michigan State (27-6) isn’t a stranger to the NCAA Tournament and all that comes with it. A 27-year streak of appearances ties for the second-longest streak in the sport’s history (Kansas’ 28 straight from 1990-2017 leads). The Spartans’ streak is the sport’s longest under one coach.

This year’s tournament bid is different than the past few. After four years of seeding toward the middle of the pack, that No. 2 by Michigan State’s name makes it an instant attention-grabber. It’s the first time the Spartans have been touted this high since 2019, the last time they earned a No. 2 seed and marched all the way to the Final Four. With the added attention this year come those distractions that Izzo rails against.

Part of handling success is learning how to deal with the outside noise. These distractions aren’t just people asking for autographs or kids asking for a picture (though barriers of fan access are at an all-time low in a virtual world where anyone can DM a player). Players have to contend with brand deals, endorsements, sponsorships, and even agents, all of which will descend on Cleveland and every other host city in the tournament. Some come with an air of shadiness. Others carry a corporate insignia.

Even the Michigan State players who have been through March Madness haven’t seen this level of attention. As much as the Spartans feel their NCAA Tournament goals — win it all — aren’t changing, with a switch from a longshot to a favorite, the noise around them is different. More people will be vying for the Spartans’ attention than in previous years.

“It’s a funny time of year, and there’s a lot of things that happen,” Izzo said. “And if you thought there were distractions and things four years ago, five years ago, it’s nothing like what these guys are going through now — nothing.”

How the Spartans handle all the hubbub and stay focused is critical to winning in the NCAA Tournament. Games aren’t won solely on the court, but also on the carpeted floors of hotel ballrooms and the folding chairs of impromptu film rooms. The teams that get the most out of the prep make deep runs. The teams who lose focus go home early.

“You gotta take it one game at a time,” guard Jaden Akins said Sunday. “… Energy, intensity is going to be high. There’s going to be different swings throughout the game, so we just gotta stay together. That’s usually the type of teams (that) win.”

Michigan State hopes it’s one of those focused teams. Its most recent loss may have been a blessing in that regard. An eight-game win streak — including seven against NCAA Tournament opponents — had the Spartans surging heading into March. Saturday’s narrow 77-74 loss to Wisconsin snapped it, with a number of avoidable mistakes in fouls, turnovers and details inducing the Big Ten Tournament semifinal loss.

“Sometimes in a hard situation like this, you gotta look at the positives,” forward Jaxon Kohler said Saturday. “And one of the biggest positives that I see is that this is going to light a fire under us. And for everyone on this team, that’s exactly what we need.”

With Izzo’s 30 years of coaching experience, Michigan State knows how to get ready for this tournament. His teams have made the Final Four more than they’ve lost in the first round. There’s some know-how in the current group, too, with players from 2023’s Sweet Sixteen run among the upperclassmen.

The Spartans have won their first game in the tournament in the past three outings. The only blemishes of the past 17 seasons are a First Four exit in 2021 and an infamous 2-versus-15 seed upset in 2016.

Michigan State’s game against Bryant will be broadcast at 10 p.m. Friday on TBS.